The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-23

and require pentecostal freshets to |
sweep them in great numbers in the |
way of the Lord. Amid emotions and |
burning sentiments, new motives start,
new resolutions are formed, and even |
the crooked are Strengthened. The |
Christian life becomes gathering |
harvest and character takes definite
shape and men "become new crea-
lures"
But, you say, 'tsuch sudden changes
are not permanent; the human mass is
only bent like forest in storm" If
that be true, the fault is not in the
bending storm,--b1t in the Jack OF
Christian helpfulness afterward. Had
the apostles left their 5000 converts
the next day after pentecost, doubtless
most of them would have drifted into
the mob that stoned Stephen. But the
| apostles stayed with them, organized
them, consulted with them, made dea-
cons of some Of them, and got them
definitely at Christian work, and we
should profit by that example; get
new members at once into the Christ
ian drift, into Christian work, putting
church responsibilities on them, and
leading them to realize how indispens-
able they are.
Many Unfversalists unite with us
after their youthful zeal is burned out
in other churches, whose doctrines they
did not believe, and they tire of playing
the hypocrite; do not expect to run for
any Office, and SO give their resting
years to us. after they are too old to
work. These have seen so much hypo-
crisy covered by excitements in old
churches that they oppose even youth
full zeal in ours. So we lose our young,
4 our jealous, and retain only skeletons
i of churches. One word tells it: pop
ular drift And that belongs to us, if
j we would resolutely reach out with one
accord and seize and turn it as the
masses really desire. And Christian
life and conduct would be doubled and
i purified thereby. And this we may do
by positive activity and heroic braveryl
800 Greeks at Thermopol@ stemmed the
tide of the great Persian army, but
every man was host. They fought
side by side, helping each other; SO may
we do for Christ, if we but have the
unity, the zeal and the moral heroism
of that little band.
I Said an orthodox minister to me,
1--WE receive without question, Univers-
alists into our church ~ "And yet
that is opposed to your viewsP" Eyes,
we don't teach it," "Ah, but do you
ordain any ministers of that faith ?''
20, Lord, no they must be sound in
our doctrines, and agree to teach them
too; but with members it issdifferent;
we receive them to teach them our doc
trines, and of course they unite with US
to learn to believe as we do. And they
do stand for our doctrines, whatever be
their private belief ! Yes, and they
pay their money to have our doctrines
taught" "But, is not that educating
men to be hypocrites ?" 80, as to that,
they are hypocrites, already, If they
1 join, US with such belief, but we don't
make them so; and if we can,use as
miserable material as that for Christ,
h why not use it ?" 80, there's meat in
that policy"
j And now, friends, be our ferees'large
or small, what shall we do !? Useevery
one we have; apply our hearts anto wis
dom. We multiply intellect by early,
persistent culture, by means of our
common schools; we increase musical
power, taste and art, by similar means;
and we use al sorts of means to stim-l
ulate enthusiasm in all this work. May
we not in like manner multiply relig-
ious sentiments, awaken conscience and
cultivate religious growth by similar
means? All, but you say, a man may
pray at home. Yes; so he may, and
ought to-; but unless he prays earnestly
at church, he is not apt to do much of
it anywhere else.
One thing more: If you send your
child TO ,comcon school or college to
train his intellect, and give him schol-
arly bearing, you expect him to be as
regular at school as the days come
round. You would almost despair of
him, were he playing truant half the
time.-readY to be led off by every at
traction, and seemingly seeking excuses
to justify his absence. or searching for
tempters to lead him from school but
what of those attending the Sunday
school and chureh, the graded schools
of Christian life, where the moral pow
ers are cultured, and the spirit is wax
ened into life and holy action !? Can
these play truant? and miss half their les
sons? How can they expect to sue
ceed in finding rest in Jesus,-as the
blessed of the Father, with spirit like
that ? o! friends, let us use common
sense in this most important matter,
and not forget our solemn duties in
these schools of Christ. Remember
we have more to do than barely paying
our tuition? We should be in our places
regularly, seeking and imparting and
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